Virgin Galactic crash investigation complicated by wide debris field

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Debris from the SpaceShipTwo accident Friday in Mojave that killed one pilot and injured another stretches across five miles, complicating the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the crash, NTSB Acting Chairman Christopher Hart said during a media briefing Saturday night

"We have our work cut out for us," Hart said at the Witt Event Center in Mojave, adding that the agency's in-field investigation may take four to seven days, but the entire operation may be complete in 12 months

See also: Space travel is dangerous. There will be no tourists.

A slew of NTSB investigators descended on Mojave earlier in the day to survey the accident site and speak to Virgin Galactic personnel. The explosion midday Friday killed, Michael Alsbury, 39, and injured his co-pilot, Peter Siebold, 43. Read more...

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